Is 12GB RAM Good? (Everything To Know)

 

RAM plays an important part in the performance of any computer.

It helps in improving both the processing and storage speed.

Despite the benefits of RAM, you should still choose additional RAM depending on your needs only since excess RAM won’t bring any other benefits.

Instead, it would cost you some additional money and will take up free space on your motherboard, which you can utilize for a different purpose.

 

Is 12 GB RAM Good?

 

Having 12 GB RAM can be good for you if you build an all-around computer that you will use for multiple purposes.

However, if you are making a PC for any specific reason, you will need more or less RAM depending on your needs.

For example, if you use your computer to play some high-end games, 12 GB of RAM won’t be enough.

However, if you use your PC to surf the Internet, create some college assignments, or carry out random office tasks, 12 GB of RAM will be too much for you.

The decision depends entirely on your requirements.

Let’s look at eight different situations where 12GB RAM might or might not be suitable for you.

 

1. For Gaming

 

If you are a seasonal gamer who plays random games in your free time, 12 GB RAM is a great fit.

Most PC games can run smoothly on a 12 GB RAM PC without any issue.

Your device also won’t lag too much since there will still be some free space to make it run smoothly.

Take a look at some of the best games you can play using a computer with 12 GB RAM.

1. Battlefield 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5
2. Metal Gear Solid 5
3. Skyrim & Fallout 5
4. Overwatch
5. Paladins
6. Dota 2
7. CS Go
8. GTA 5
9. Witcher

Other than these famous games, you can play all the other games that require no more than 12 GB of RAM.

However, it is essential to meet all the other requirements of these games to make sure they run smoothly on your PC.

There are some games that you won’t be able to play with 12 GB RAM.

If you are an avid gaming lover who plays games randomly, you should choose 16 GB of RAM.

If you consider creating gaming streams, 12 GB RAM will work fine.

Since the PC will be running smoothly, you will be able to record your voice and video smoothly.

 

2. For Graphic Designing

 

RAM plays an integral part in software that designers use for their work.

There are different software programs available for designing.

However, some of the best designing applications include Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator, and Adobe XD, which will work perfectly fine if you have 12 GB RAM.

All of these programs have a general requirement of 8 GB RAM and anything above that number is perfect to make them run.

Your PC won’t face any lag issues when using this software, which is great for some quick work.

 

3. For Video Editing

 

If you want to do some standard video editing for casual purposes, 12 GB of RAM is more than enough.

Your PC will be able to run most of the average video editing software like Filmora, CyberLink Power Director 365, etc.

Your computer will efficiently run them without causing any lagging issues.

However, if you want to use some of the high-end software and create high-quality videos, 12 GB RAM will never be enough.

Some premium video editing programs like Adobe Premiere Pro, Adobe After Effects, etc., won’t run to their full potential on a 12 GB RAM PC.

Your PC won’t run smoothly either if you install any such software without even using them since they require large storage spaces on the PCs.

If you are a cinematographer or a professional movie maker, 12 GB RAM is way below par.

Your computer won’t be able to run any of the professional picture or video editing software, and you will end up adding more RAM later to make things work.

It is better to add a good amount of RAM at the time of purchase if your video editing requirements are high.

 

4. For Mobile Phones

 

A computer RAM is entirely different from a mobile phone RAM.

Computers generally use DDR3 and DDR4 RAM, which are comparatively larger RAM plates with enhanced performance.

On the other hand, mobile phones use LPDDR3 and LPDDR4 RAMs, which are small RAM plates that offer fewer performance capabilities and speed.

Due to this, 12 GB RAM on the mobile phone is good only if you want to use your phone for random use.

However, if you’re going to use high-end applications and games on your phone, you should go for mobile phones offering more than 12 GB RAM.

Some people love playing virtual reality games on their phones, which can only run smoothly on your phone if the RAM is above 12 GB.

People who want to do live streaming on their phones while enjoying the game will also require more RAM.

 

4. For Corporate Offices

 

For offices that require day-to-day data handling, inventory management, accounts management, audits, etc., 12 GB RAM is more than enough.

Some specific corporate applications and ERP software like Oracle, ERPNext, iDempiere, etc., will work excellently without issues on PCs with less than 12 GB RAM.

If your office primarily uses data management software and spreadsheets only, you won’t face any issues using PCs with less RAM.

You should not spend money and utilize extra space on your motherboard with additional RAM when it does not add any specific value to the performance of your computer.

 

5. For Animation

 

Most animation software generally requires more than 12 GB of RAM and additional graphics features.

Software like Adobe Maya, Moho Pro, Cartoon Animator, and others cannot run on computers that have RAM of 12 GB or below.

Also, you won’t be able to run different 3D modeling software if your RAM is below 12 GB since most of them require a significant amount of space for running.

You also won’t be able to run some of the high-quality interior design software smoothly.

If your goal is to create typographies and simple forms of 2D animations, you can use a PC with 12 GB of RAM.

However, you will have to deal with some lag issues, and your computer also might not perform to its full potential.

 

6. For Web Surfing & Cloud Working

 

If you love surfing the web, following blogs, using social media, reading Kindle books, etc., 12 GB RAM is more than enough for you.

Your PC will work just fine with this amount of RAM.

It will perform at a lightning-fast pace and take commands quickly by taking relevant actions.

Similarly, if you are working with data on the internet most of the time, 12GB RAM will work fine.

You will be able to use fast-paced cloud storage easily.

The amount of RAM will work fine for you if you work in any programming industry.

Since most of the data will be stored on the internet, your computer won’t require any additional RAM to perform at a faster pace.

However, it is better to use SSDs instead of additional RAM plates since most of your data storage will be on the cloud and hard drives.

This will give you more space to add relevant data to your computer.

 

7. For Studying

 

If you are a student who wants to purchase a PC for assignments and classes, 12 GB RAM will work fine unless you have to run heavy software.

Online classes and meetings are generally conducted on Zoom, Google Meet, etc.

For assignments, teachers typically utilize platforms like Google Classroom or other online platforms to keep track of the student.

These platforms do not have any heavy RAM requirements since they are all cloud-based platforms.

You will be able to run them on the internet quickly, and an average amount of RAM will be outstanding for you.

However, if you study designing, filmmaking, video editing, or something similar, it is better to have more RAM than 12 GB.

These courses generally require lots of practice and you will have to install and utilize some of the heavier software to get better at them.

You will also get assignments and projects that will require working on these platforms.

This means you will get stuck at some point while completing any relevant course.

 

8. For Entertainment

 

If you have kept a computer or laptop to watch movies, read books, and play random games only, 12 GB RAM will be surely enough for you.

You can also stream live videos on different social media channels easily without any issues.

This 12 GB RAM will also be enough for virtual reality entertainment like 3D movies, animations, songs, etc.

No matter what entertainment source you consume and what channel you watch, 12 GB RAM will be enough for you.

However, if you have a bad habit of installing random applications for your entertainment consumption, 12 GB of RAM might not be enough.

You should factor in your requirements and make a decision accordingly.

 

How Important Is RAM For A Computer?

 

RAM plays a vital role in the performance of the computer.

It improves your computer’s speed, loading time, and storage capabilities.

You will also utilize some of the heavy applications efficiently without any issues.

However, RAM is not the only factor that plays an integral part in the performance of any computer.

If you have a lower model of motherboard, slow processor, small storage space, excess RAM won’t give you any specific benefits.

It is better to find a suitable combination of RAM and other computer features.

Since RAM utilizes space on the motherboard, it can be a loss of freedom if it does not add any value to your PC.

 

1. Provides Storage Space To The Application

The primary purpose of RAM is to provide storage space for the applications.

It helps store the cache data on the PC and makes the PC run smoothly without any issues.

All the application’s internal data is stored on the RAM, while the user data is stored on the hard disk or solid-state disk.

The feature makes it essential for computer owners to pay special attention to the RAM.

If you have an excess amount of RAM available, you will be able to run high-end applications easily.

However, if you have less RAM, the applications might cause issues to your PC, and it will start lagging.

 

2. Improved Speed

RAM plays an essential part in improving the speed of the computer.

It improves data processing speed by storing some of the commonly used data and accessing it.

This gives the laptop a faster rate since the data is processed at a minor data hierarchy.

More RAM means faster processing speed since the computer will store more data on RAM.

More RAM also allows you to access and run multiple programs at once without any issues in the response rate since RAM will transfer fast data between the applications.

 

3. Enhanced Latency

Latency is the computer feature that makes the computer capable of reacting to the commands at a faster pace.

If your computer is using more RAM, it will be able to respond to the commands at a more rapid pace.

This also means a lack of hang issues when you send multiple commands to the computer at a faster rate.

 

Is 12 GB RAM Enough For Laptop?

 

Yes, 12 GB RAM is suitable for laptops since most people use laptops for their day-to-day tasks.

As discussed before, 12 GB RAM will be enough if you are planning to run some of the average applications.

Most people avoid playing any intense games on laptops.

This means no considerable amount of RAM will be required for you to make your laptop seamless.

 

Should Your Choose DDR3 Or DDR4 RAM?

 

DDR4 RAMs have a faster speed as compared to DDR3 RAMs.

The maximum potential of DDR3 RAM is 16 GB.

However, DDR4 has no limits, and PC owners can use it to take their computer’s potential to the next level.

It is better to switch to the DDR4 if you want to improve the performance of your computer.

However, if you have a DDR3 slot on your motherboard, the DDR4 RAM won’t fit, and you will have to change the RAM slots on your computer.

Take a look at the three significant differences between DDR3 and DDR4 RAM.

 

1. The Appearance

Although most of the RAM appearances are the same, they still have some differences.

The DDR3 RAM has 240 pins on the RAM plate while the DDR4 has almost 260 pins.

There is a slight change in the coloring as well.

The DDR4 RAMs are darker green, whereas the DDR3 RAMs are lighter green.

 

2. Energy Efficiency

The DDR4 RAMs consume lesser energy as compared to the DDR3 RAMs.

They are more energy-efficient and generate less heat, which makes them perform to their full potential.

 

3. Data Processing Speed

DDR4 RAMs generally offer a speed of 3,200 MT/s which is something of real value considering the reduced processing time it will cost.

On the other hand, DDR3 has an average processing speed of 1,800 MT/s which is comparatively low.

 

How To Upgrade RAM In A PC

 

Upgrading computer RAM is an easy task if you have some basic hardware knowledge.

However, if you are a complete newbie to computer components, it is better to avoid any risk and consult a professional to get the job done.

Take the following steps to upgrade RAM on your PC.

1. Remove all the plugs and wires.
2. Open your computer’s casing.
3. Check out for RAM spaces available in your motherboard. (If there is no RAM space available, you will need to add additional slots.)
4. Open the RAM plate clips and place the RAM with yellow chips facing toward the plate.
5. Close the clips.

After following these steps, you will be able to upgrade your RAM successfully.

Make sure to open your computer and check your PC’s configuration to find whether your RAM is increased or not.

If it has not increased, check out the plates and ensure their pins are correctly fitted into the plate clips.

 

Conclusion

Having 12 GB RAM is an excellent option for some situations, while for some others, you might have to think about removing or adding some.

Before making the purchase, it is better to analyze your needs.

This will help you in making the right purchase.